23 March 2001
Lambeth council's environment department produced Wheeled bin protocol four years ago as a guide to the newly introduced refuse receptacles and has been delivering it ever since.
It was only after a recent distribution of the leaflet that the council realised it was full of grammatical gobbledegook and spelling errors.
The leaflet's instructions include: 'The bin must be presented within two metres of the curtilage on collection day'. It also states that wheeled bins will not be provided 'where it is impossible for the residents of the property to manoeuvre the bin from its residual stance to the presentation point without endangering themselves or anyone else involved'.
Robert Blower, Lambeth council's head of communications, said the leaflet would not get past the council's current plain English guidelines.
'The problems with grammar, typing errors and the general tone are an example of exactly how councils shouldn't connect with residents,' he said.
'It's difficult to understand what the leaflet is going on about. It isn't very clear and is rather pompous. It shouldn't have been produced.'
Blower added that the council was working on a replacement.
PFmar2001
